Rotary motor.



.a. bow.

ROTARY MOTOR. APPLICATION madman. a0. 1916.

?atented Nov. 13, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

.l. DOW.

ROTARY MOTOR.

APPLICATION FILED mm. so. me.

Patented Nov. 13, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- W 7 W Deva N E STATES P T QFFIQE,

JOSIAH DOW, OEPHILADELPI-IIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ROTARY MOTOR. i

To all whom it may concern.

. Be it known that I, JOSIAH Dow, a citizen of the United States, and residing in the city of Philadelphia, county of Philadelphiayln.

the State of Pennsylvania, have invented .certain new and useful Improvements in Rotary Motors, of'which the following a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming hereof.

My invention relates to that typeofrotary motors in which are combined a cylinder, a'

ber mounted eccentrically within the cylinl der and in contact with the circumferential wall thereof between theinlet and exhaust ports, said eccentrically mounted reaction member being slotted to receive the piston,

and to rotate therewith. V

The objects of my invention are to perfect the bearings between the piston and reaction member and between sa d reaction member or members and the casing of the motor, to

properly govern the flow of motive fluid from cylinder to cylinder in multiple cylinder or compound motors of thetype re-' ferred to, to simplify the valve mechanism, and to provide an accurate and easily controlled valve operatinggear for such motors.

The invention will be more fully explained hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which it is illus trated and in which,

motor which embodies the invention, partly broken out to save space.

Fig. 2 is a view of the same in end eleva tion, as seen from the left hand in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a view of the same'in central,

longitudinal section, on a larger scale, the valve-gear being omitted.

Fig. 4: is a view in end elevation, as seen from the left hand in Fig. 3, with the end plate removed and some of the parts broken away and in section to show details of construction.

Figs. 5 and 6 are detail viewsof the valverespectively showing the valve in position. ahead and in positlon for refor going verslng.

- Specification of Letters Patent.

a part The invention is illustrated in thedraW- ings as embod ed ma compound motor,,th e exhaust motlve fluidfrom the high pressure cylinder being. admitted directly to thelow pressure cylinder for further expansion thereln, but it will be evident asthis descrip tlon proceeds that the invention is applicable" also to a s ngle-acting, d rect-expansion,

. f'f j.65 In. the. embodiment of. the invention illus- Y motor.

trated the cylinder casting a has formed therein a high pressurecyl nder b and alow pressure cylinder 0 of the sanie diameter but of greater length, ,thetwo cylindersbeing separated by an annular wall orpartition at,

The same casting maylalso have formed therein the valve seats and passages for the inlet and exhaust of the motive fluid, as hereinafter described. The partition or wall ain part forms one end wall of each of. the

cylinders. Cylinder heads (Z and e, bolted to r the cylinder casting, form the other end V V The annular. wall orpartition a, provided with afsuit able bushing (5 forms a bearing for the an-Y walls of the two cylinders.

nular hub it at the inner end of one of the reaction members, as here nafterexpla ned.

The cylinder head cl forms a bearing d,,

suitably hushed as at: (Z for the driving shaft f, and a bearing d suitably 'bushed' as at (Zflfor the annularhub g of, one of the. reaction members, as hereinafter explained, such bearing d? being of larger diameter than thebe aring (Z so as to. surround the same and being ec'centricfwithv I 1 respect thereto. :The cylinder head .9 is simi- Figure 1 is a view in slde elevation ofta' larly formed with abearinge', bushedas at 6 for the dr1v1ng-shaft andwith abear} ing 6 bushed as at a, for, the annular hubx h of the corresponding reactlon, memben! Suitable stuffing-boxes cl, and 6 may also be provided- I i ings (Z and 6, has secured thereto the pise der, eachface being provided at its ends with suitable packing,,as at f Each piston also has a, smooth, sliding contact at its sides with the walls which form the end walls of the cylinder and may be provided with packingstrips, as indicated at f In Patented Nov. 13, 1917. Application filed March 30, 1916. SerialNo. 87,676. M 1 v in weight in a compound engine beingsee cured by making the, low pressure piston.

hollow.

In every fluid pressure motor in which the motive fluid acts expansively and not by impact, there mustbea reaction surface against which the motive fluid may react while acting upon the piston to propel the same. Moreover, in a motor in which the piston rotates continuously infthe same direction, the reaction member. must not stand permanently in thepath of the piston. Itis impracticable, in such a motor, to causejecting annular hub g turning-in the bear ingd of the cylinder head cl, and at the other enda projecting annular hub g fitting within the projecting annular hub h of thereaction member in the bushinga of the annular partition wall a of the cylinder casting. 'At its other end'the vreaction member-h has a projecting annular hubjh? turning in the bushed bearing 6 of the cylinder head 6. The relative, movement between the, overlappinghubs of the tworeaction membersisslight and the friction is therefore small. The bearing of'the hub h in the partition Wall a andthe bearing of the hollow hubs of both reaction membersfin the corresponding heads of the cylinder may be suitably lubricated," a. pipe for the conveyance of lubricant to the journal it being showmatw in Fig. 3; Bea-ring blocks 9 having concentrically curved seatsrin the opposite faces of'the slotted portionof'the reaction member 9 bear with smooth, plane faces'against'the corresponding sides .of the piston f, permitting the necessary freedoniof movement between the piston andthe. re-

action member and preventing'the passage.

of the motive fluid, into the interior of the reactlon members, which are necessarily hole low,1n order to permit the. eccentric movementabout the shaft The two bearing blocks 9 are c-onnected, at opposite sides of'the piston, by. check pieces each of which has a stud in the plane of the center line of'the piston and forming the axis on which the blocks may swing; Packing strips 9? may also be let into the sides of the the piston.

blocksgf, cheek pieces 9 studs 9 and packing strips 9 It will be observed that the bearing blocks 9 have their'curved outer faces generated from a point in the central plane of the piston and oscillate about a corresponding axis, providing for the differential changes in position of the piston in relationtoaradius ofthe reaction member as the two rotate.

At its lowest point the reaction member 7"" or F, as the case'may be, has a closeworking fitagainst; the corresponding cylinder and'in order that leakagemay be prevented it is desirable that there should be a broad contact face between the-two rather than a line contact only. Accordingly, at the lowerportion of its circumference,the-cylinder is dished or concaved slightlyon the center of rotation, of the reaction member, so that there shallbea wide-contact face, as shown in Fig: i. The operation of the piston isnot afl'ected'in any; manner by such dishing of the cylinder-because, atthis point in the rotation of'eachpiston and reaction member, the piston is relatively withdrawn within the circumference of'the reaction member. At oneside ofthisbroad bearing of the reaction memberagainst the circumferential wall of the cylinder is fOrmedthe inlet port I), and at theother side'is formed the outlet port 6 for the cylinder 6, the inlet and outlet-ports for-the cylinderabeing similarly placed: In order that the available area of eachrport may not be restrictedby the proximity of the reaction member, each port is extended in a circumferential direction, as shown clearly in Fig. 4, and con1- municates with the valve seat, the one by the channel 6 and the other by the channel '5 For each cylinder there is a valve to control the'admission and exhaust of the motive fluidwith suitable passages. As shown in the drawings there isformed in the lowerpart of the cylinder casting a hushed cylindrical valve seat'z' which has four ports equally distributed circumferentially, one, communicating with the inlet passage it, a second withthepassage Z)", which communicates withthe inlet port 6 of the cylinder, a third with the exhaust passage in which, in a single-acting motor, would'be the exter nal exhaust, but in a compound motor forms the receiver or channel by which the exhaust ofthe high pressure cylinder isconducted to the inlet of the low pressure cylinder, and a fourth with a channel o which communicates with the outlet port 6 of the cylinder. In a similar manner there is. formed below the cylinder 0 a hushed valve seat Z which has four ports circumferentially distributed, onepcommunicating with the receiver or inlet'lc, a second withthe cylinder inlet port, a third with'the external exhaust; and a fourth with the cylinder outlet channel.

} further explained herein.

In the valve seat 2 is an oscillating valve m which extends from end to end of the valve seat,-also extends diametrically across the valve seat, and has its edges or working faces broadenoughto covert-he ports? 6 and b when the valve is in a horizontal' position. The valve is engaged with and arranged to be actuated by a valve stem or spindle m which passes through a suitable stutflng box (Z on the cylinder head (Z. The valve for the low pressure cylinder 0 is similarly engaged with and operated through valve-stem or spindle n which has a bearing in a suitable stuffing-box e onthe cylinder head 6.

Each of the two valves is actuated to control the admission and exhaust of the motive fluid by a corresponding eccentric on the driving-shaft 7. Since the pistons are placed diametrically opposite each other on the shaft the eccentrics also are placed diametrically opposite. Since the same valves serve not only to control the cutoff but'as throttle valves and must act in harmony, the regulation of the effect of the eccentric throw upon the two valves may be accomplished by a single controlling means. ,The several devices involved in the operation just referred to will now be described, it being understood that the valve-gear for the low pressure cylinder is identical with the valve-gear for the high-pressure cylinder but timed differently.

On the shaft f, adjacent to each cylinder is fixed an eccentric 0, the two eccentrics being set 180 apart. The eccentric strap 0 carries an eccentric rod 0 which has at its end a cross-pin 0". Swiveled on one end of the crosspin is a bushed socket 0 which slides freely on an arm m secured to the valve stem or spindle on. end of. the cross-pin is swiveled a block 0 which travels freely in a slotted arm 39 which is pivoted at p on the frame or supporting bracket 9 A controlling handlever q, cooperating with an ordinary detent rack and pivoted at Q2, carries a pin 9 which engages the arm 3; with freedom for longitudinal movement therein. If the throttle-lever is in its middle position the arm 79 will be moved also by the pin 9 to its middle or vertical position, thus causing the arm m through the sliding block 0, to be moved also to its middle or vertical position. In this position of the arm m the valve at will occupy its horizontal position, covering both the cylinder inlet port If and the cylinder exhaustport 5*, cutting off en tirely the admission of the motive fluid to the cylinder. The cross-pin 0", will move up and down in a vertical line, the block 0 On the other sliding in the slotted ar'm p and the block 0 sliding on the arm m without causing any oscillatory movement thereof. If the control-lever g is thrown to the right hand position, as shown in Fig. 2, the arm p will also be-swung to the right, thus carrying the cross-pin 0 to the right so that the valve will be moved to its wide open posi tion as shown in Fig. l, and the throw'of the'ececntric 0 will have the maximum effect in oscillating'the' valve. For any intermediate position of the throttle-lever g the position of the valve and the effect of the throw of the eccentric will be modified correspondingly. Forall positions of'the throttle-lever to the right of its central position, the motive fluid will be admitted tothecylinder through the channel 6 and the ort 19, causing the piston andth'erefore the shaft to move in a clockwise direction. According to the position of the cut-off the motive fluid under di-rect pressure will follow the piston to a givenpoint and thereafter will expand behind the piston until; the piston passes the exhaust port 6 Thereafter, the admission of the motive fluid being cut off until the piston has passed the low'pointof its rotation, the motive fluid in advance of the piston will be completely displaced through the port 6 and channel 6*. As soon as the piston has passed beyond the low point of its movement, uncovering the inlet port Z), the motive fluid will be admitted behind it continuing to drive it in a clockwise direction as before. r For any position of the control-lever to the left of its central position, the position of the valve m will be changed so that the motive fluid will be admitted to the cylinder through the "channel 6* and the cylinder port 5 and the exhaust will escape through the port Z) and channel 5 thus re versing the motor. It will be evident that such reversal of the motor can be effected even when the motor is in operation and that the motor may therefore be used as a brake for the driving shaft 7.

The control-lever g is-fixed upon a shaft g and has fixed thereto, at its opposite end, 115 a short arm g which engages a swinging arnr p through which the path of movement of the cross-pin 0 of the eccentric rod 0 and the position of the arm n of the valve-stem or spindle n are controlled in 120 the same manner as before.

It will be observed that since the flow of the motive fluid is completely controlled by the cooperation of the valve m with the horizontal'ports b and If, it is notneces- 125 sary that the valve shouldat anytime cover the vertical ports and 7a,and that thenecessary movement of the valve m is therefore small; it is just sufficient to open the ports b and 17* simultaneously with a-little lap i in the position for the most widely open cut-off and then completely closing them again according; to the position of complete cutoff, which, as explained, may take place at the initial positlon of the p ston so that pressure'cylinder is delivered directly into receiver or channel 7c" by which it is conducted to the valve chamber of the low pressure'cylinder. Description and explanation of'the valve-gear for the low pressure cylinder are not necessary because of the identity of such valve-gear in construction and operation with the high pressure valve-gear.-

It will be understood that the invention might be embodied in a motor having one or any number of direct acting pistons, as well as ina compound motor. It will also be understood that various changes in details of construction and arrangement may be made to suit different conditions of use and the convenience of the manufacturer.

I claim as my invention:

1. A rotating piston motor comprising a cylinder having inlet and exhaust ports, a driving shaft concentric with the cylinder, a piston rotating concentrically withsaid shaft and with its outer end in contact with the circumferential wall of the cylinder, a cylindrical reaction member mounted eccentrically in the cylinder with its circumference concentric with its axis of rotation and in contactwith the circumferential wall of the cylinder between the inlet and exhaust ports thereof, said reaction member being slotted to permit the piston, to pass through it but rotating therewith, front and rear.

bearing blocks each having a straight face bearing upon the corresponding face of the piston, and an outer curved face bearing against a correspondingly curved seat in the reaction member, and cheek pieces connecting said bearing blocks so as to cause themto move in unison.

2. A rotating piston motor comprising a cylinder having inlet and exhaust ports, a driving shaft concentric with the cylinder, a piston rotating concentrically with said shaft and with its outerend in contact with the circumferential wall of the cylinder, a

cylindricalreaction member mounted eccentrically in the cylinder with its circumference concentric with its axis of rotation and in contact with the circumferential wall of the cylinder between the inlet and exhaust ports thereof, said reaction. member being slotted topermit the piston to pass through it but rotating therewith, front and rear bearing blocks each having a straight face bearing upon the-corresponding face of the piston, and an outer curved face bearing against a correspondingly curved seat in 3; A. rotating; piston motor comprisinga structure With partit on member therein d viding said structure into cylinder members on opposite sides of said partition, heads closing the outer ends ofv said cylinder members, a driving shaft concentric with the cylinders, pistons rotating concentrically with said shaft with their outer ends in contact with the circumferential walls of the respec tive cylinders, cylindrical reaction members mounted eccentrically in the cylinders in. contact with the cu'ciunferential,walls there of. between the inlet and exhaust ports, said reaction membersbelng slotted to permit the plstons to pass therethrough but rotating therewith, annular hubs at the outer'endsof said reaction membersadapted to bearings in the outer heads ofthe cylinders, and annular hubs at the inner ends of said reaction members, one ofsaid hubs being adapted to a bearing in the partition member of the cylinder structure and the other being adapted to a bearingnithin, the first.

4. A rotating piston motor comprising a cylinder having inlet and exhaust ports, a driving shaft concentric with the cylinder, a piston rotating concentrically with said driving shaft and with its outer end incontact with the circumferential wall of the cylinder, a cylindricalreaction member mounted eccentrically in thecylinder in contact with the circumferential wall thereof between the inlet and exhaust ports, said reaction member being slotted to permit the pisto-nto pass therethrough, but rotatingtherewith, a valve seat having inlet, discharge and controlling ports, the latter communicating, respectively, with the inlet and exhaust ports ofthecylinder, a valve oscillating upon its and coacting with said'controlling ports togovern theflow of motive fluid into and-from the cylinder, and a valve operating gear comprising a controlling lever, a slotted and swingable arm engaged thereby, a radial, arm on the valve stem, a reciprocated rod and blocks carried by the latter, one of said blocks engaging and slidable on said radial arm on the valve stem and the other engaging the slotted: and

driving shaft and with its, outer end in contact with the circumferential wall of the cylinder, a cylindrical. reaction member mounted eccentrically in the cylinder in contact with the circumferential wall thereof between the inlet and exhaust ports, said reaction member being slotted to permit the piston to pass therethrough but rotating therewith, a valve seat having inlet, discharge and controlling ports, the latter communicating, respectively, with the inlet and exhaust ports of the cylinder, an oscillating valve coacting with said controlling ports to govern the flow of motive fluid into and from the cylinder, and a valve operating gear comprising a controlling lever, a swingable arm having two radial slots therein, a radial arm on the valve stem, a reciprocated rod, blocks car 'ied by the latter, one of said blocks engaging with and slidable upon said radial arm on the valve stem, and the other engaging with and slidable in one of the slots in the swingable arm, and means carried by the controlling lever and engaging the other slot in said arm.

6. A rotating piston motor comprising a cylinder having inlet and exhaust ports, a driving shaft concentric with the cylinder, a piston rotating concentrically with said driving shaft and with its outer end in contact with the circumferential wall of the cylinder, a cylindrical reaction member mounted eccentrically in the cylinder in contact with the circumferential wall thereof between the inlet and exhaust ports, said reaction member being slotted to permit the piston to pass therethrough but rotating therewith, a valve seat having inlet, discharge and controlling ports, the latter communicating, respectively, with the inlet and exhaust ports of the cylinder, a valve oscillating upon its axis and coacting with said controlling ports to govern the flow of mo tive fluid into and from the cylinder, and a valve operating gear comprising a radial arm on the valve stem, a slotted and swing able arm having its axis so disposed that said arm can swing across the axis of the valve stem, a reciprocated rod, and blocks carried by the latter, one of said blocks engaging said radial arm on the valve stem and the other engaging the slot in the swingable arm.

7 A rotating piston motor comprising a cylinder having inlet and exhaust ports, a driving shaft concentric with the cylinder, a piston rotating concentrically with said driving shaft and with its outer end in contact with the circumferential wall of the cylinder, a cylindrical reaction member mounted eccentrically in the cylinder in contact with the circumferential wall thereof between the inlet and exhaust ports, said reaction member being slotted to permit the piston to pass therethrough but rotating therewith, a valve seat having inlet, discharge and controlling ports, the latter communicating, respectively, with the inlet and exhaust ports of the cylinder, a valve oscil lating upon its axis and coacting with said controlling ports to govern the flow of motive fluid into and from the cylinder, and a valve operating gear comprising a radial arm on the valve stem, a slotted and swingable arm, a reciprocated rod, and blocks carried by the latter, one of said blocks engaging said radial arm on the valve stem and the other engaging the slot in the swingable arm, and both of said blocks being carried by one and the same pin which is adapted to a transverse bearing in the reciprocated rod.

8. A rotating piston motor comprising a cylinder with inlet and exhaust ports, a driving shaft concentric with the cylinder, a piston rotating concentrically with said driving shaft and with its outer end in confact with the circumferential wall of the cylinder, a cylindrical reaction member mounted eccentrically in the cylinder in contact with the circumferential wall thereof betweenthe inlet and exhaust ports, said reaction member being slotted to permit the piston to pass therethrough, but rotating therewith, a valve seat having inlet, discharge and controlling ports, the latter communicating, respectively, with the inlet and exhaust ports of the cylinder, a valve coacting with said controlling ports, to govern the flow of motive fluid into and from the cylinder, and a valve operating gear comprising a controlling lever, a slotted and swingable arm engaged thereby, a radial arm on the valve stem, a reciprocated rod, blocks carried by the latter, one of said blocks engaging and slidable on said radial arm on the valve stem and the other engaging and slidable in the slot of the swingable arm, and means for retaining said controlling lever in different positions of adjustment and thereby fixing the limits of swing of the valve.

9. A rotating piston motoreomprising a cylinder with inlet and exhaust ports, a driving shaft concentric with the cylinder, a piston rotating concentrically with said driving shaft and with its outer end in contact with the circumferential wall of the cylinder, a cylindrical reaction member mounted eccentrically in the cylinder in contact with the circumferential wall thereof between the inlet and exhaust ports, said reaction member being slotted to permit the piston to pass therethrough but rotating therewith, a valve seat having inlet, discharge and controlling ports, the latter communicating, respectively, with the inlet and exhaust ports of the cylinder, a valve coacting with said controlling ports to govern the flow of motive fluid into and from the cylinder, and a valve operating gear comprising a pivoted controlling lever, a slotted and swingable arm engaged thereby, a radial arm on the valve stem, a reciprocated rod, and blocks carried by the latter, one of said blocks engaging andslidable on said radial arm on the valve stem, and the other engaging and slidable inthe slot o't'the sivingable arm, the pivotal axes of said swingable arm and controlling lever being so disposed in respect to the valve stem that both the slotted armand controlling lever can be swung from one side to the other of the axis of said valve stem.

10. A rotating piston motor comprising a cylinder With inlet, and exhaust ports, a driving-shaftconcentric with the cylinder, a piston rotating concentrically with said driving shaft and with its outer end in contact with the circumferential Wall of the cylinder, a cylindrical reaction mei'nber-mounted eccentrically in the cylinder in contact with the circumferential Wall thereof between the inlet and exhaust ports, said reaction member being slotted to permit the piston to pass therethrough but rotating therewith,

a valve seat having inlet, discharge and controlling ports, the latter communicating, respectively, with the inlet and exhaust ports of the cylinder, a Valve coacting Withsaid controlling: ports to govern the fiovv of motive fluid into and from the cylinder, and a valve operating'gear comprising a controlling lever, a slotted andswingable arm engaged thereby, a radial arm onthe valve stemya reciprocated rod, anda transverse pin adapted to a bearing in said rod, said pin having at one end a fixed block and'at the other end a block mounted so as to turn thereon, said fixed block engaging and slidable on the radial arm on the valve stem and the pivotally-mounted block being slidable in the slot of the swingable arm.

This specification signed this 28th day of March, A. D. 1916.

JOSIAH DOlV.

Copies 01' thls patent may be e'btained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington. D. 0, 

